Illuminating means



Aug.16,1949. H ELQNGBERQ, 2,479,500

ILLUMINATING MEANS Filed Aug. 26, 1946 SMU'MUI, 7 74 ENTOR Sqmz ATTORNEYPatented Aug. 16,V 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ILLUMINATING MEANSHarry E. Longberg, Superior, Wis. Application August 26, 1946, SerialNo. 693,074

Claims.` (01124042)A l This invention relates to illuminating means andhas special reference to that type of such means `particularly adaptedto the illuminating of a stairway and adjacent handrail therefor andassociate house number, name plate or the like.

The principal object is to accomplish such a lighting unit in a mostsimple and efcient manner'and with the use of a minimum amount ofelectric, current.

s Another object is to employ the peculiar characteristic of some typesof transparent plastic especially in relatively thick pieces, ofcarrying lightrays entering one edge thereof through the body inwardlyof Vsaid edge, together with the safety advantage ofmavoiding all dangerand annoyance from a direct View of the light source.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of theinvention continues.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing forming part of thisapplication:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stairway entrance to which theinvention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a slightly enlarged exploded view of the newel post and itsseparable parts with the auxiliary plastic banister removed.

In the drawing, I represents the initial steps of an approach to anordinary dwelling house where it is common to have some sort ofillumination usually quite remote from such approach, for example, someadjacent wall of the house or possibly from the ceiling of the porch towhich the approach may lead.

In the instant case, however, and deemed novel, the illumination occursdirectly within the various associate objects adjacent the steps of theapproach and directly upon the steps to be initially engaged by oneapproaching the honse in otherwise dusk or possibly darkness.

2 represents the newel post of such an approach and in this case isshown as hollow with an electric cord 3 leading to and upwardly withinsaid post to the bulb 4 preferably mounted upon the removable covermember 5 for the innermost side opening 6 of the newel post. This cover5 is provided with a suitable opening, not shown, through same for thetransmission of light downwardly upon the steps directly below same, andfor which purpose the angularly shaped visor l is xed to the outer faceof the cover 5 over the opening therein.

A narrow elongated opening 8 is made through the outer wall of the newelpost 2 preferably opposite the front portion of the opening 6 in theinner wall and which narrow opening is for the transmission of lightinto the relatively thick CII edge of the rectangularly shaped piece ofplastic 9 carrying the house number or whatever indicia may be desired.As carrying means for the piece of plastic 9 I have shown a sheet metalbox-like container I0 having a right angularly extending flange portionII through which suitable holes may be provided for attaching the holderI0 to the side of :the newel post with the innermost edge of the plasticpiece 9 covering the slot 8.

. It is deemed obvious that the lettering or numbering on theplasticmember may vary materially from that shown and yet function inmaking a clear display thereof by the light waves penetrating theplastic member.

As means for further illumination and identication of the entrance tothe' stairway or approach, there is shown the elongated S-shapedbanister I2 of plastic attached in any desired manner to the supportingbanister or rail I3 and having the lower end thereof extending withinthe rectangularly shaped socket I6 fixed to the front face of the newelpost 2. This socket surrounds, a suitable horizontally disposed openingto the interior of the newel post intermediate of the two openings 6 and8, thus all luminous objects receive their light rays from the samesource or bulb, 4.

It is well known that certain types of plastic have the property oftransmitting light along their length, particularly if light rays areintroduced in parallel relationship with the body of the plastic. In theinstant employment of this property of plastic, it is contemplated thatthe light source 4 will be placed in spaced relationship to the end ofthe rail I2 which is intended to receive the light to be transmittedthrough the rail and that the source 4 will be placed so as to directlight rays into said rail I2 to be carried therealong.

A further characteristic of the invention is that the light receivingterminus of the banister I2 which extends within the socket IG may becolored, and thus make possible the change of appearance of thebanister.

Resting upon the box-like bracket I4 for holding the socket of the lightbulb 4, I have shown a plate of diifusing glass for any desired controlof the light projected upon the steps through the visor 1, said glassbeing indicated at I5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A stairway approach comprising a hollow newel post, a fixed hand railor banister associated therewith, an auxiliary hand rail or banister oftransparent plastic mounted upon said fixed rail and having its foremostterminus' communicating with the interior of said post for transmittinglight waves interiorly of said auxiliary rail toward the opposite endthereof, and a light source within said post adjacent the terminus ofsaid auxiliary hand rail.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by havingindependent means adjacent said light source for projecting a portion ofsaid light Waves upon steps of said stairway.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a device for lighting a stairwayapproach comprising, an upright hollow newel post, a light source withinsaid post, said post having an opening in one side thereof adapted toreceive said light source, a visor over said opening to direct lightkdownwardly from said light source, said post having an.

opening in the front thereof adjacent said light source, and atranslucent plastic hand rail car1 ried with one end in said latteropening and its opposite end being bent upwardly and backward'- ly' oversaid post, said` rail being of such material as to conduct light raysfrom said. source along the length thereof.Y

4, As a new article of manufacture, a device for lighting a stairwayapproach comprising, an upright hollow newel post, a light source withinsaidv posh. a. banster adjacent said post, an opening one side ofsaidpost adapted to receive said light source,A a visor over saidopening to direct light raysv from said light source; said post hav- 'mgan opening in an adjacent side thereof adjacent said light source, and atranslucent plastic hand rail, said rail being carried with one endthereof in said. last mentioned opening and its opposite end beingcarried on said banister, and

said rail being of such material as to conduct light rays from saidsource along the length thereof.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a device for lighting a stairwayapproach comprising an upright hollow newel post, a light source withinsaid post, a banister adjacent said post, said post having an opening inthe front thereof adjacent said light source, and a translucent handrail having one end thereof installed within said opening to receivelight from said' light source, and the remainder thereof bent to engagesaid banister and be `carried by the latter whereby light entering saidrail will illuminate said banister.

HARRY E. LONGBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,164,301 Moore Dec. 14, 119151,961,865 Remington June 5, V1934 2,082,724 Shelor June I, 19372,227,861 Petrone Jan. '7, 1941 2,247,969 Stewart July 1, 1941 2,310,593Orlicki Feb. 9, 1943 2,443,561 Greenwald June 15, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date' V521,781 Great Britain 1940 816,795 France 1937

